Annual Ski with Grandpa Day

We love skiing with Grandpa. We get to do it once a year. This was the best powder day EVER!

It started off a little rough. We got up there and I had forgotten my ski pants. In Idaho. Nice. I ended up buying a pair in the ski shop. It was too nice of a day to not ski! I bought men's pants that one of the boys will probably be wearing next year.

Justin was here too, but he headed straight from the lift to Bishop's Bowl. That kid is a one track mind skiier. Friends don't exist on powder days. A little frustrating, but true.

Paige only lasted half day. It was a lot steeper than she is used to skiing, not to mention the POWDER! She did great and can ski anything if she just trusts herself! So I took her in, Grandpa skiied the lower half of the mountain, and the guys skiied hard all day.

Have You Seen Brady?

While in Provo for Spring Break Brady and Paige really wanted to go ice skating. Paige went last year with Grandpa. Grandpa is a darn good ice skater. His list of talents never ceases to amaze us. I guess growing up in the land of perpetual winter taught him a few things.

Brady has never been ice skating. Brady is good at everything. Immediately. We all know it. We all accept it. There is just something about this kid athletically. One time at the doctor's office, upon listening to Brady's heart, the pediatrician told me that he had an "athletic" heart beat. When I asked him what that meant, he told me that he had listened to thousands of heartbeats, and this one just had some "get up and go" in it. That's Brady, I thought. And, have you ever seen this kid ski? Play baseball? (even when his parents don't spend time practicing with him? Poor kid) Some people just have "it."

Well, Brady met his match on the ice.

It was so funny to watch him. Each member of my family came to me, separately, and commented on Brady and his skating "ability."

Paige: Have you seen Brady? He looks funny.

Justin: Have you seen Brady? It's weird that he's not very good at this. It's funny to see him struggle at something!

Darren: Have you seen Brady? I can't believe it's this hard for him. You never see Brady like that!

Brady is good at laughing at himself and was the first to admit that ice skating was a little more than a challenge for him. He's my favorite kid, dont' tell the others.

Music Festival

Every year the picture is the same. A happy Paige and an annoyed boy. Used to be Justin. We finally let him quit piano. It finally came to me that he was never going to look back in life and wish he had never quit piano. Never. So I quit banging my head against the wall.

These two had music festival on Saturday. They were well prepared. They both scored SUPERIOR! I have heard "Backstage Pass" enough for all the people in America to have it engrained in their minds as well.

In Brady's defense, Justin and a friend skiied Sun Valley on this day, leaving Brady behind for about 8 min. of piano playing. I don't blame him for the bad atitude. But we had the "Good, Better, Best" chat. Skiing is "good," probably even "Better" (SUN VALLEY!!!!!), but participating in Festival, after months of practicing, was probably the "Best" choice. Sure mom, he said, looking straight ahead.

Swimming in Chicken or Swimming AND Chicken

Tonight I picked up 40 lbs. of chicken breasts from the back of a truck. It was a great deal through Zaycon foods. I paid on line last week and then did a drive by pick up. I didn't even have to get out of my car!

So we were swimming in chicken tonight. But I also did a lot of swimming today (3000 yds) so I did swimming AND chicken today. I also did a little biking and running, but that is for a different post. Maybe one about why I feel like throwing up right now. One about how you shouldn't eat a huge dinner and lots of brownies and ice cream late at night before a day like today. Don't worry, I pushed through, so I probably didn't learn my lesson.

Anyway....Justin and I cut up chicken, mixed marinades and placed them together in meal sized portions in Ziplocs. BEAUTIFUL! He was a willing participant despite what the picture shows.

He is my favorite kid. Don't tell the others.

Happy Birthday Darren!

42! Seriously? I am the only one who ages in this relationship. Darren is just one of those forever young people!

Paige made him this "mountain bike" cake while we were out of town. Justin called it "dirt cake". It was delicious!

March is full of birthdays for us. Justin is next - 15! He started driver's ed tonight!

Some skiing

Just a few ski pics for your viewing pleasure.

Everybody is in on the jumping.